Full Description
There is a myth that English spelling is unnecessarily complex, and it is spread by those who don't understand the writing system. Spelling for Life offers lucid, accessible tools which help to reveal that, when explicitly and systematically taught, spelling is scientific, law-abiding and even elegant.
Using a synthesis of theory, research and teaching experience, the fascinating nature of English spelling is systematically teased out. The examples and exercises throughout offer an encouraging, accessible way to implement the program of study and strive to reveal the beauty of spelling. Spelling for Life enables teachers and students to:
• learn what the common spelling coping strategies are;
• gain insights into undoing poor spelling habits;
• work together to reveal patterns not only in regular spelling, but also in words which on the surface seem to break the spelling rules;
• practise successful spelling strategies, progressing from simple to complex words rapidly and with confidence.
This new and improved edition includes updated spelling techniques as well as new chapters on orthographic mapping, spelling assessment, teaching consonant clusters well and suffixing rules. Aided by example lessons, formative assessments, unique tools, a scope and sequence, and extensive practice lists, this highly acclaimed overview of spelling succeeds in developing theory and practice in the writing system for teacher and student alike.
Contents
Introduction
Orthographic Mapping
Spelling Assessment
Broken Rules and Word Stories
Word Families
Homophones
Mnemonics
Counting Syllables
Affixes
The Spelling Formula
The Difference Between Vowels and Consonants
What Consonants Say
Round the Blend
Illegal Letters
The Single Vowels
The Letter 'y'
Final Silent E, Jobs 1-3
FINAL SILENT E Job 4
Final Silent E and Suffixes
Final Silent E Additional Jobs
The Wicked Sisters and Other Wacky Rs
The Vowel Generator
Strong and Weak Syllables
Schwa
To Double or not to Double?
The return of illegal 'i'
The Suffix Generator
More Fascinating Patterns
Some Delightful Lists
A Suggested Scope and Sequence
Appendix 1. Forgive me, Scotland
Appendix 2. The Triangle Game
Appendix 3 Why not just make spelling simpler?
